We look forward to your questions about I.C.T. for dyslexia and will do our best to answer them. Do use the form at the bottom of each page or write to B.D.A. tech for a more personal response.
See Questions , More Questions and Speech Recognition Questions.
Here are some recent questions and answers:
Hello! I’m an Occupational Health Technician and DSE Assessor, who’s been asked to assist a colleague with dyslexia, who has been told that a purple coloured screen filter will make the use of his computer much easier. Are you able to shed any light on this or advise any further please? He does currently use speech recognition software, which does assist him. Thank you. Cas Walker.
A colour filter can be a great help in reducing visual stress – black writing on white paper can make the letters appear to jump around. Purple is not necessarily the right colour for him. Go into Word options and change background and foreground colours until he finds a good one. If it does help, he would benefit from going to an opthalmologist who offers a colorimeter screening service.
Can you advise me whether an Apple computer or a Microsoft computer would benefit my 14 year old dyslexic daughter? I understand that we can claim the VAT back, how do I do this? Thank you, Elma.
A lot depends on how she wants to use it and what for. Some of the programs we suggest are available for both PC and Apple, but mainly for PC. Will she need to link into the school’s system. Disabled students can sometimes get the VAT back – it depends on the local VAT Office, but you do have to have proof, such as a disabled person’s allowance book.
Hi I am an adult with literacy. I find it difficult to contrstuct good sentences. I would like to instal a program similar to microsoft wordprocessor but in supporting me to present a clear sentences which makes sense. Please it would be appreciated if some helps me to overcome such issue. Joseph Buhagiar.
Have a look at WriteOnline It will give you a fully functioning wordprocessor plus a mindmapping facility and word prediction. If you need it and can have help to set it up, you can also have banks of words on topics you need. You can listen to them before you select them.
we are planning to get either a laptop or tablet for our daughter who is studying GCSEs – do you have any advice as to what is the most dyslexic friendly device?
It really is a case of personal preference and how she wants to use it. The tablets are newer technology so not tried out over a number of years, but they are lighter and tend to have a longer battery life – they are probably also more ‘nickable’ and desirable to other teenagers! Netbooks, as opposed to laptops are smaller and lighter too, but will need external cd/dvd drives and external hard drives to load/ store programs and work.
I am currently researching how Cognitive Abilities Tests (CATs) are used in secondary schools and found that one of the common uses is to identify possible dyslexia. I wondered if you had come across its use in this way and what you think about it?
Natalie, sorry for the delay in replying. Secondary schools use CATs to identify pupils whose cognitive abilities are much higher than their English and Maths achievements (in spite of the current trend that says that IQ scores do not predict potential achievement!) They do not identify the reasons for underachievement, though some patterns may suggest dyslexia, e.g. higher non-verbal than verbal scores.
However, very significantly for dyslexic pupils, they have to read the papers. If dyslexic pupils read slowly or inaccurately, they may not do themselves justice on the cognitive ability tests, and therefore their underachievement may not show. We have had instances where the CATs scores are much lower than scores on WISC tests, which are administered individually and orally.
I have helping me in M’soft WORD. Composition no problem, only spellin’! But most of my mail is via IncrediMail. com not compatible with this US e-mailer. Must have a better tool than the basic PC came with. It’s great for entertaining the kids, you see….and me in return….in my retirement.!
Got anything can d’load, please?
Peter J
Hello, I am a high functioning dyslexic who has managed to complete a MSc and thus feel like I am in control of my dyslexia.
Recently I have started a new job as a Manager, where I am continually writing policies, job specs and other important documents. I have been appalled at how many mistakes I am making, mistakes I am not aware of but others who read the document are. My confidence has taken a huge dip and I am now worried I am not actually able to work at this level. Is there any soft wear where I could write my documents and it would analyse the work as I write it? I did just have a look at the WriteOnline page but it didn’t seem to go far enough. Any advice please? I am feeling pretty bad about my abilities at the moment! D.
Hello Dan
Congratulations on your new job, but sorry to hear there are problems. There are several strategies you can try.
1. I assume you are using MS Word? There are several utilities in it that can help – if there are words and phrases you regularly use, you can use Autocorrect from your own edited dictionary and/ or Autocomplete where you set a code eg type ‘sg’ and ‘statutory guidance’ will go into your text.
2. You could produce templates of job specs / policies that you can then tweak for specific situations.
3. You could use a text prediction program like CoWriter with Word – you will be presented with a selection of possible spellings and it is easier to recognise the correct one than to recall it.
4. You could consider trying Dragon voice recognition – it takes time to train it and get comfortable with dictating your work and does not suit every one, but worth a try.
5. Have you looked at Access to Work because that assessment could entitle you to equipment and secretarial / PA support?
Hope that helps?